Sarubobo doll from Hida Takayama

 When you are traveling, do you buy doll as a souvenir?

This is one of famous souvenir from Takayama.

◆Hida's Sarubobo doll◆
"Sarubobo" literally means monkey baby in Hida dialect and
Sarubobo doll was named for its resemblance to Japanese monkey.
It is said that grandmothers in Hida region used to make
Sarubobo dolls for their grandchildren to play with wishing that
the dolls would bring happiness onto children's lives.
Now Sarubobo doll is known as a good-luck charm and believed
that it wards off evil spirits.

If you would like to know more about Sarubobo doll.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarubobo